Legend of Lake Baikal

Duration6days

Price fromUSD $1,850 ?Currency ConversionConverted from USD based on the latest exchange rate. Final amount and payment will be in USD. Final conversion rate is determined by your bank.

Trip StyleCulture, Nature

Time of yearJune - Sep

Embark on a 6-day journey around Lake Baikal. Visit its most extraordinary natural wonders and get acquainted with the local culture and legendary heritage of the world’s most ancient lake

Dive into the Legend of Lake Baikal on this glorious summer excursion to the glittering Blue Pearl of Russia. Plummeting to 1,642m at its deepest point, Baikal is also the world’s most voluminous lake. Its mirror-clear waters are a reflection of Siberia’s wildness, its vastness, and its beauty. Baikal is a place where shamans still speak to the spirit world, wildlife-rich virgin forests thrive and lake-living seals fish and frolic in freshwater. Surrounded by jagged mountains and taiga of pine, fir, and cedar, Lake Baikal is a protected World Heritage site. Unsurprisingly, it is the most famous attraction in Siberia, but Baikal's sheer size means there's always an escape from the crowds.

Legend of Lake Baikal Tour Highlights:

  • The Taltsy Museum between Irkutsk and Listvyanka is a fabulously comprehensive open-air museum, set over 64 acres. Over 40 historical buildings from both the Russian and Buryat cultures of Baikal have been painstakingly reconstructed and authentically furnished. Wander through the streets of an 18th-century Siberian village and get a feel for life in a nomadic Buryat summer camp
  • Cruise to Olkhon Island, the largest of Lake Baikal’s islands and the “capital” of shamanistic culture. On a day tour of Olkhon’s natural wonders, discover untouched Siberian forests, craggy capes, pristine beaches, and jaw-dropping sunsets
  • Baikal Nature Reserve: Here, the desolate mountains of the Khmer Daban Range descend steeply to the rocky shores of this wild southeastern stretch of coast. The park preserves subalpine meadows and tundra, and deep within the taiga, bears, lynx, and eagles. Hike along the Oskinova River, guided by a local huntsman to a crystal clear waterfall and enjoy a homemade lunch at a riverside hunter’s hut

This tour gives you enough time to see the most renowned and enigmatic sights scattered along the shores of Lake Baikal and hidden offshore on the remote, rocky islands that dot Baikal’s interior. Many of Baikal’s most striking natural monuments are also it's most sacred. Baikal, and especially its largest island, the astonishingly beautiful Olkhon, are central to the rites, rituals, and legends of the local Buryat people, who commune with the natural world through the ancient practice of shamanism.

Your Legend of Lake Baikal tour starts from the historic town of Irkutsk on the Trans-Siberian Railway, but we’ll soon leave the city behind for the idyllic rural villages of Baikal’s western shore.

Enjoy Baikal’s glorious summers cruising the glassy waters of the lake to the opposite bank and into the Republic of Buryatia. Almost like crossing a national border, Buryatia is primarily inhabited by the descendants of the Mongols and far more eastern in flavour than Irkutsk. Visit a nature preserve and trek to a waterfall through tundra and taiga accompanied by a local hunter. Next, we’ll set sail for Olkhon Island, home to mysterious archaeological sites, majestic cliffs, pristine beaches and soul-stirring sunset over the endless expanse of the lake.

From its wild nature to its extraordinary people and fascinating blend of cultures, this relaxed yet insightful tour will reveal the secrets, the stories and the legends of the mighty Lake Baikal.

Arrival

Irkutsk

Departure

Irkutsk

Accomodation

3* hotel, guesthouses

Trip style

Culture, Nature

Duration

6 days / 5 nights

Action rating?

     

Group size

min 2

Type of tour

Private tour

Itinerary View map

Day 1 Welcome to Irkutsk

Welcome to Irkutsk, a fascinating city on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the gateway to Lake Baikal. Meet a guide at the airport, jump onto a coach for a picturesque drive (68 km) to Listvyanka village, located on the western shore of the Lake Baikal. Along the way, you will visit the fascinating ethnography museum-complex of wooden architecture called "Taltsy". Here you will experience walking through the Siberian streets of the 18th century. Upon arrival at Listvyanka village, a cozy fishermen settlement, you will enjoy a lunch and try the Siberian cuisine. After lunch, you will visit the Baikal Museum, where you’ll discover more about the lake’s history and unique forms of flora and fauna. You will also visit the aquarium and meet the playful Baikal Seals that inhabit the lake. This day will finish with a spectacular view of the southern part of Lake Baikal from the Cherskogo Rock lookout. *The tour starts at 10 am, so please make sure you arrive in Irkutsk not later than 9:45 am. Pre-tour extensions, such as hotel accommodation and transfers can be secured by us upon booking, contact us for more info.

Day 2 Boat trip to Tankhoi

Today you will enjoy a cruise to the opposite shore of the Lake, located in Buryatia region. After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up by your guide and transferred to the pier. On a mini cruise to Tankhoy village, you will cross Lake Baikal and find yourself in the Baikal Nature Reserve. Here the high tundra is perfectly adjacent to the fir-cedar taiga. You will visit the tourist centre, where we will learn about the reserve, after, accompanied by the ranger, we make a short hike towards the river Osinovka, to see the picturesque waterfall. Enjoy lunch with homemade delicacies at a hunters hut located next to the mountain river in a creek valley. After resting in nature, we head back to Listvyanka. The rest of the day is free; you may take a walk along the embankment and go shopping at the local fish market.

Day 3 Olkhon Island

Today, you will embark on a 5h drive to the very heart of Baikal - the island of Olkhon. During the journey to the island, you will be amazed by incredibly picturesque landscapes, sacred places and natural beauty of the area. At the beginning of our journey, we stop at several locations in Irkutsk to explore its architecture and see the main sights. One hour drive from Irkutsk we will stop at the Golden Horde ethnic park where you can connect with the culture of the indigenous population of Baikal area – to listen to fascinating throat singing, to have a lunch in the big Buryat yurta and to take a part in master-class of making traditional Buryat dishes - buuzy meat dumplings. Next, we drive along the magnificent Tazheran Steppe, which once was home to the first indigenous Baikal peoples, whose petroglyphs are found at the tribal encampment sites. Afterward, we board a boat for a short ride to Ogoy Island. This Island has never been inhabited by people and it is considered to be “a pure land”, that is free of negative energy. More than ten years ago the Stupa of Enlightenment was established here. It is considered that Buddhist stupas are meant to dissolve negative interferences in the world, favour locality and benefit to people especially to those who visit them consciously. Upon arrival to Olkoh Island, you will be transferred to the hotel in Khuzir village, where you may take your time to relax or take a stroll to the most famous place of Lake Baikal - Cape Burkhan to enjoy the sunset.

Day 4 Khoboy Cape

This morning, you will have the opportunity to spend time at your discretion: sunbathing on the beach, riding a quad bike or just walking, enjoying nature. Closer to noon, after lunch, you will embark on an excursion to the Northeast part of the island - Khoboy Cape. This trip from south to north will take appx 5 hours and will allow you to discover the beauty of the island. First, the road will pass through a small forest, then you will observe the hills and steppes. Next, you will see unique "rock complexes", Sagan-Khushun ("Three Brothers"), and finally, you will arrive at the very north of the island - Cape Khoboy (in translation from Buryat"fang"), a very special and sacred place. Here you feel yourself both on the edge of the island and on the edge of the Earth, you will see endless water expanses of Baikal that will make you feel like a part of the universe. Cliffy rocks, absolute silence, the infinity of the sky and the watery surface - it seems as if Eternity settled here. After picnic lunch at one of the most beautiful locations, we head back to Khuzhir village.

Day 5 Back to Irkutsk

Time to say goodbye to beautiful Lake Baikal as our journey is coming to the end. The first half of the day we won't be rushed so you will have an opportunity to stay alone with yourself, to spend this day in your own way and to say goodbye to this places that already imprinted on your heart for such a short time. Towards the evening the group will get together and will depart to the southern part of the Island. Here we will get on board of the speedboat, you will glide along the picturesque west coast of Baikal – rocky coasts, green forest, colourful beaches, blue sky and fluffy clouds will float far away – catch the moment! And far off you can see beautiful Khamar-Daban peaks – the mountains on the east coast of Baikal. In the late evening, you will arrive at Listvyanka from where you will be transferred by bus straight away to Irkutsk. Accommodation in a comfortable hotel.

Day 6 Departure

After breakfast in the hotel, a transfer to the airport will be organised.

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Inclusions

Group arrival and departure airport transfers

3* hotel accommodation in Irkutsk, guest houses in Listvyanka and Olkhon

Breakfast in the hotels, picnic lunches during day excursions, dinners in the hotels

All transportation according to the itinerary (coach, 4wd car, boat)

Local English-speaking tour leader

All activities and sights indicated in the itinerary (except optional)

Russian visa support documents

Exclusions

Flights

Travel insurance

Russian visa. *Russian visa can be arranged by 56th Parallel for an additional cost (for Australian citizens only). Apply for a comprehensive visa service here.

Optional excursions

Individual transfers not indicated in the itinerary

Legend of Lake Baikal

6 days / 5 nights

From
$1,850
USD

*Private tour, price is per person, based on min 2 people

Make an enquiry Detailed Itinerary Personalise this tour

Testimonials

Thalia BrucknerIsrael

I wanted to take the time to thank you for this wonderful trip!

Everything was really very well organized, all the guides we had, were very knowledgeable and very nice people. I have to say, that I picked your company on the net, and I was a bit afraid…  But again, the experience couldn’t have been better!

Jan KoubeckAustralia

Thank you for organising the trip. 

It was my dream to see Lake Baikal and the nature around it. From my experience, it was amazing and adventurous! Everything was excellent, from the hotels to Russian people (I can understand a bit of Russian language).  The group was small, which was very good, made up of only 4 people, 2 Russians from Moscow, 1 from USA and myself.

Jessica SamuelAustralia

Thank you so much for organising the most amazing trip to Baikal for my boyfriend and I.

It was so organised and we had an absolute blast! I will be recommending you guys to anyone wanting to travel to Russia. Let me know if there is anywhere you would like me to rate you on to help promote your company.

More Reviews
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Legend of Lake Baikal

6 days / 5 nights

From
$1,850
USD

*Private tour, price is per person, based on min 2 people

Make an enquiry Personalise this tour

Dowlnload comprehansive info-kit for this tour, FAQ’s and extras

Detailed Itinerary
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Legend of Lake Baikal

Days 6

From USD $1,850

Trip Style Culture, Nature

Time of year June - Sep

Day 1: Welcome to Irkutsk

Welcome to Irkutsk, a fascinating city on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the gateway to Lake Baikal. Meet a guide at the airport, jump onto a coach for a picturesque drive (68 km) to Listvyanka village, located on the western shore of the Lake Baikal. Along the way, you will visit the fascinating ethnography museum-complex of wooden architecture called "Taltsy". Here you will experience walking through the Siberian streets of the 18th century. Upon arrival at Listvyanka village, a cozy fishermen settlement, you will enjoy a lunch and try the Siberian cuisine. After lunch, you will visit the Baikal Museum, where you’ll discover more about the lake’s history and unique forms of flora and fauna. You will also visit the aquarium and meet the playful Baikal Seals that inhabit the lake. This day will finish with a spectacular view of the southern part of Lake Baikal from the Cherskogo Rock lookout. *The tour starts at 10 am, so please make sure you arrive in Irkutsk not later than 9:45 am. Pre-tour extensions, such as hotel accommodation and transfers can be secured by us upon booking, contact us for more info.

Day 2: Boat trip to Tankhoi

Today you will enjoy a cruise to the opposite shore of the Lake, located in Buryatia region. After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up by your guide and transferred to the pier. On a mini cruise to Tankhoy village, you will cross Lake Baikal and find yourself in the Baikal Nature Reserve. Here the high tundra is perfectly adjacent to the fir-cedar taiga. You will visit the tourist centre, where we will learn about the reserve, after, accompanied by the ranger, we make a short hike towards the river Osinovka, to see the picturesque waterfall. Enjoy lunch with homemade delicacies at a hunters hut located next to the mountain river in a creek valley. After resting in nature, we head back to Listvyanka. The rest of the day is free; you may take a walk along the embankment and go shopping at the local fish market.

Day 3: Olkhon Island

Today, you will embark on a 5h drive to the very heart of Baikal - the island of Olkhon. During the journey to the island, you will be amazed by incredibly picturesque landscapes, sacred places and natural beauty of the area. At the beginning of our journey, we stop at several locations in Irkutsk to explore its architecture and see the main sights. One hour drive from Irkutsk we will stop at the Golden Horde ethnic park where you can connect with the culture of the indigenous population of Baikal area – to listen to fascinating throat singing, to have a lunch in the big Buryat yurta and to take a part in master-class of making traditional Buryat dishes - buuzy meat dumplings. Next, we drive along the magnificent Tazheran Steppe, which once was home to the first indigenous Baikal peoples, whose petroglyphs are found at the tribal encampment sites. Afterward, we board a boat for a short ride to Ogoy Island. This Island has never been inhabited by people and it is considered to be “a pure land”, that is free of negative energy. More than ten years ago the Stupa of Enlightenment was established here. It is considered that Buddhist stupas are meant to dissolve negative interferences in the world, favour locality and benefit to people especially to those who visit them consciously. Upon arrival to Olkoh Island, you will be transferred to the hotel in Khuzir village, where you may take your time to relax or take a stroll to the most famous place of Lake Baikal - Cape Burkhan to enjoy the sunset.

Day 4: Khoboy Cape

This morning, you will have the opportunity to spend time at your discretion: sunbathing on the beach, riding a quad bike or just walking, enjoying nature. Closer to noon, after lunch, you will embark on an excursion to the Northeast part of the island - Khoboy Cape. This trip from south to north will take appx 5 hours and will allow you to discover the beauty of the island. First, the road will pass through a small forest, then you will observe the hills and steppes. Next, you will see unique "rock complexes", Sagan-Khushun ("Three Brothers"), and finally, you will arrive at the very north of the island - Cape Khoboy (in translation from Buryat"fang"), a very special and sacred place. Here you feel yourself both on the edge of the island and on the edge of the Earth, you will see endless water expanses of Baikal that will make you feel like a part of the universe. Cliffy rocks, absolute silence, the infinity of the sky and the watery surface - it seems as if Eternity settled here. After picnic lunch at one of the most beautiful locations, we head back to Khuzhir village.

Day 5: Back to Irkutsk

Time to say goodbye to beautiful Lake Baikal as our journey is coming to the end. The first half of the day we won't be rushed so you will have an opportunity to stay alone with yourself, to spend this day in your own way and to say goodbye to this places that already imprinted on your heart for such a short time. Towards the evening the group will get together and will depart to the southern part of the Island. Here we will get on board of the speedboat, you will glide along the picturesque west coast of Baikal – rocky coasts, green forest, colourful beaches, blue sky and fluffy clouds will float far away – catch the moment! And far off you can see beautiful Khamar-Daban peaks – the mountains on the east coast of Baikal. In the late evening, you will arrive at Listvyanka from where you will be transferred by bus straight away to Irkutsk. Accommodation in a comfortable hotel.

Day 6: Departure

After breakfast in the hotel, a transfer to the airport will be organised.

Included

Group arrival and departure airport transfers

3* hotel accommodation in Irkutsk, guest houses in Listvyanka and Olkhon

Breakfast in the hotels, picnic lunches during day excursions, dinners in the hotels

All transportation according to the itinerary (coach, 4wd car, boat)

Local English-speaking tour leader

All activities and sights indicated in the itinerary (except optional)

Russian visa support documents

Not included

Flights

Travel insurance

Russian visa. *Russian visa can be arranged by 56th Parallel for an additional cost (for Australian citizens only). Apply for a comprehensive visa service here.

Optional excursions

Individual transfers not indicated in the itinerary

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Legend of Lake Baikal

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